The X Factor’s Arin Ray on Singing Solo, Making Girls Crazy, and Connecting to the World — Exclusive

The first time Arin Ray was on The X Factor (last year), he was part of the group inTENsity. While they made it pretty far, the experience did not show off Arin’s mad vocal skills to the max. So, we were delighted that he made it into Britney Spears’ Top 4 Teens group, and even happier that he is moving on to the Top 12. While Demi Lovato has pretty much filled the fangirling quota for the 17-year-old singer, so when Wetpaint Entertainment met up with him at the November 5 X Factor party, we tried to keep it on the court. What has your experience been like so far this year?Yo, this year is amazing, it’s definitely different than being in a group, so it’s pretty awesome being solo and seeing the fans react to me and the world react to me in a very special way.What has been different compared to last year in regards to your fans’ reactions and the judge’s reactions?Being in a group you’re not really singled out, so it’s really not everything coming towards you. Now, I’ve got girls and fan clubs and everything. It’s crazy and for them to react to me like that and the reactions from the judges is really crazy; it’s really awesome.Are you dating or do you have a girlfriend right now?No, currently I’m not dating. I love girls — I think they’re awesome — but right now I’m just trying to focus on the show and then maybe afterwards I might get me a little girlfriend for waiting. But it would be awesome to share something like this with someone so it’s pretty awesome.What do you want to sing?What do I want to sing? I don’t know, I don’t know if I’m allowed!What will your strategy be this season?My strategy this season is to make the girls go nuts!How do you plan on doing that?Just make them feel special — when I’m singing an emotional song, then I want them to feel like the girl I’m talking about in that song. I want them to feel what I’m feeling when I’m singing that song and just to connect to everybody. I want to connect to the world. That’s what I want to do, I want to share the world what I have and show the world something new and fresh.What is the best advice you’ve received from you mentor, Britney?You know the best advice I’ve gotten from Britney (Spears) is to spill everything out on stage. I’ve soaked up everything last year and to this year and at this point just spill it out on stage and give it my all.Does she understand you as an artist?Oh, she most definitely understands me, that’s why we bond so much because she knows I’m a performer. I love to entertain and that’s what she’s done and made millions off of. Britney is amazing.What is one thing you’ve learned from her that will stick with you after this competition is over?Just be me, just be myself. Nobody can do me better than me so really just give it my all and put everything on the stage. Leave my heart on the stage.What is something we would be surprised to know about Britney?I guess some people would say she may be stand-offish but I see her as just a person, she’s just a regular person. She loves to talk to me just as much as I love to talk to her, so it’s amazing. She very open and I love her for that.Who has supported you the most throughout this experience?My mom. She’s pretty awesome, she’s been there from day one since birth and she’s here with me now. It’s amazing for her to be here and it’s very awesome to have someone like that in your life. So my mom has done pretty much everything for me.Want more X Factor goodness?Like us on Facebook or follow us onTwitter!